Reported.
People were built for survival. In addition, I recently stayed at a hotel and had to ask the housekeeper who was cleaning my room a question, and she did not understand. It was no problem, but I think a lot of women get these type of jobs. Nothing wrong with these types of jobs. In addition, it is hard work cleaning many hotel rooms a day, and I always leave them above what is the standard tip rate. They deserve it.
Years ago I worked at a place and one of the top foreman was illiterate. I was 2 years in before I actually knew this
This was in construction and the man was fine with rulers, measurements, and the like but he was totally not able to read. However he was a hard worker, good with the men, always got things done on time, and was very conscientious on the quantity of work.
For assignments, the Super just explained carefully to him what needed to be done and made sure any layout was already there when that was needed.
His wife kept track of the money in the house, and his paychecks. I distinctly recall one phone call from her checking up one paycheck.
A very large number of people from Europe and American go to places where Chinese or Arabic are spoken, and learn to speak the language fairly well, without ever learning to read anything printed in their alphabet. They get along fine, not being able to read is not a serious handicap.
Blind people are also illiterate, and it is far from being the most compelling of disabilities
I too grew up in a family that eschewed baby words. My mother used to tell a story about me at the age of three in a railway station. My aunt, seeing the train approaching, said, “Oh look, there’s a choo choo.” (We had steam engines then)
Apparently I turned to her, with my hands on my hips, and announced in a loud voice. “That’s not a choo choo, that’s a train.”